Thermal nuclear pulse simulation at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- Technadyne Engineering Consultants, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- PDA Engineering, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
The National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico is being used to simulate the thermal pulse from a nuclear weapon on relatively large surfaces. Pulses varying in length from 2 seconds to 7 seconds have been produced. The desired pulse length varies as a function of the yield of the weapon being simulated. The present experiment capability can accommodate samples as large as 1.2 {times} 1.5 meters. Samples can be flat or three-dimensional. Samples exposed have ranged from fabrics (protective clothing) to an aircraft canopy and cockpit system, complete with a mannequin in a flight suit and helmet. In addition, a windowed wind tunnel has been constructed which permits exposure of flight surface materials to thermal transients with air speed of Mach 0.8. The wind tunnel can accommodate samples up to .48 {times} .76 meters or an array of smaller samples. The maximum flux capability of the NSTTF is about 70 calories/cm{sup 2}-sec. A black-body temperature of about 6000 K is produced by the solar beam and is therefore ideal for simulating the nuclear source. 3 refs., 7 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5870249
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-2991C; CONF-9104143--2; ON: DE91010857
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140909 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
BLACKBODY RADIATION
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR RECEIVERS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TESTING
THERMAL RADIATION
THERMAL TESTING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEAPONS